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s= <br />As you are aware, our competition for qualified operators is with <br />the City of Vero Beach, Ft. Pierce, and General Development <br />Utilities. We have advertised consistently through the Personnel <br />Department and have diligently interviewed all applicants. Due to <br />the lack of available operators and the current starting wage scale <br />for water/wastewater plant operators, the Department has been unable <br />to attract/hire the number of operators needed to adequately and <br />safely staff our current facilities. <br />The Department currently has 8 operators (of which 1 is a trainee) <br />that are performing the duties of at least 15 operators. This is <br />being achieved through the maximum use of overtime by operators and <br />supervisors, and operating with 1 man to a shift. <br />With the expansion of the South County RO facility by an additional <br />3 mgd, expansion of the North Beach RO Plant, and the planned North <br />County RO facility, the Department must be able to attract top <br />quality operators to adequately staff these facilities. <br />Certain maintenance jobs are on hold at the plants until an adequate <br />number of operators are available to safely complete the required <br />tasks. Various maintenance tasks require two operators to be <br />present in case of an accident. Under present conditions, each <br />operator is working six days a week to cover the system demand. The <br />same conditions exist with the wastewater facilities. <br />ANALYSIS: <br />The Department has reviewed the comparable pay scales between Indian <br />River County, Vero Beach, Ft. Pierce and GDU, and this analysis is <br />attached. Indian River County starting rates for water and <br />wastewater plant operators are 17 to 21 percent lower than starting <br />rates for the City of Vero Beach. <br />RECOMMENDATION: <br />The Department requests approval of the following pay scale in order <br />to compete with the surrounding entities and enable the staffing of <br />our facilities with qualified skilled operators: <br />Water Plant Operators <br />Class A $11.03 - $14.31 <br />Class B 10.19 - 13.75 <br />Class C 9.25 - 12:49 <br />Shift Differential 5% <br />Wastewater Plant Operators <br />Class A $11.03 - $14.31 <br />Class B 10.19 - 13.75 <br />Class C 9.25 - 12.49 <br />Lift Station Mechanics <br />$ 8.00 - $10.80 <br />Overtime pay for Water Plant Supervisor and Wastewater Plant <br />Supervisor for time in excess of ten (10) hours overtime per week. <br />49 BOOK 7; C? <br />